Read More

Nicola Sturgeon signs off on the formal request for an independence referendum (Image: PA)

While political focus was on the Brexit shambles at Westminster, ministers stood up at Holyrood.

At First Minister’s Questions, Sturgeon was forced to apologise to survivors of horrific mesh implant surgery, sometimes offered to women with pelvic organ prolapse.

Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt then unveiled a new 10-year mental health strategy, months after it was due to be published.

It was immediately undermined by council leaders who refused to sign it off because of significant late changes.

And Economy Secretary Keith Brown slipped out a U-turn on proposals to scrap skills agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The SNP gave an update on fracking but refused to give any more information on whether they will move towards a full ban.

Read More

The four announcements and questions from MSPs took up two hours and 15 minutes before Holyrood knocked off early at 4.45pm.

Sturgeon had defended her Government’s work during FMQs. But opponents said Scotland’s priorities are being put to one side.

Labour published a list of 10 Government “failings” in the past week.

They include missed cancer patient times for the fourth year running, 6000 fewer beds in hospitals since 2007 and a ditched promise on junior doctors’ hours. Labour leader Kezia Dugdale tackled Sturgeon on complaints mesh survivors have been let down.

Dugdale said: “One thing that the First Minister has not done is deliver justice for the Scottish mesh survivors.

“Their lives have been destroyed by a medical procedure that was supposed to help them to get better.”

Read More

Tory leader Ruth Davidson accused Sturgeon of ignoring her stated aim to put education at the heart of government. She highlighted a drop of 4000 teachers since the SNP took power.

Davidson said: “The First Minister talks about priorities.

“I know that she has had a tough week and that it is getting worse but is she going to stand there after forcing a two-day debate on independence, forcing through a referendum against the wishes of the people of Scotland and still say that education is her priority?”

Sturgeon hit back with a list of SNP action in the last year.

She has committed £10million to support food and drink, signed an economic partnership with Bavaria, chaired a meeting on the future of social security and announced 300 jobs in Glasgow, among other things.

Sturgeon added: “I will take no lectures about the day job.

“It is just a pity that so much of our day job is spent cleaning up the mess made by a Tory Government.”

Fracking

Energy minister Paul Wheelhouse

The SNP were accused of dragging out a decision on fracking after revealing “nothing” in a statement on the mining practice.

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse updated Holyrood on a consultation but had little to say on what the Government will do.

Parliament voted to support an outright ban last June. The SNP abstained while they stick to a temporary ban on fracking.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish, who is trying to legislate for a ban, said: “The minister just spent 10 minutes of Parliament’s time saying nothing.”